Mornin'...

Some random tunes while I get ready for double duty at the perfect tavern.

The Drifters - Sweets For Me Sweet
Robert Earl Keen - Travelin' Light
The Band - Stage Fright
Tim O'Brien - Farewell Angelina
Rickie Lee Jones - Lazy River
The Texas Tornados - Who's To Blame, Senorita?
Kris Kristofferson - Why Me
Guy Clark - Maybe I Can Paint Over That
Todd Snider - I May Smoke Too Much
Greg Brown - Freak Flag

Speaking of freak flags, my hair is now longer than it's been in nearly forty years, as I work on a sort of pact to grow at least ten inches for the folks at Locks Of Love. I have to confess, though, that what seemed like a tonsorial expression of individuality and independence in my twenties is kind of a nusiance in my sixties. Still have lots of hair, though, and it's a good cause...

As the Iowa caucus attendees assemble...

...I'm preparing to go perform a public act of folk music. I'm struggling to find a tune appropriate to the occassion. If Paul pulls it out, I suppose "I Owe A Lot To Iowa Pot" might work.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop by the perfect tavern and see what comes out of the songbag.

Back later to review the Iowa outcome.

A pretty good day for the good guys...

...across the country yesterday, though, as expected, some of the local races I'm interested in are too close to call after the first ballot drop. By the time I have time to add 'em up and write 'em down we should know more. Off to the salt mine perfect tavern for a bit. See ya'll later...

Another revolution...

...of my home planet has occurred since I fired up this thing on October 22, 2003. Eight Earth years is damn near incalculable in blog years, I suppose. All the usual accolades to my co-bloggers, readers, commenters, sources and inspirations apply. Doing this has been a source of entertainment, education and solace for me, and I hope it's been at least some of that for some of you.

I'd be remiss if I didn't note that none of this would have been possible without the unrelenting indulgence of the Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left.

All the usual accolades also apply, of course, to those who've chipped in to keep me and the blog afloat financially. Things aren't quite as desparate around Upper Left World Headquarters as they were the last time I rattled the change cup, but the income from my day (and night) job drops rather precipitously in the cooler months when the patio closes and half the dining capacity at the perfect tavern disappears. Since that tip jar isn't so productive right now, this one could use some attention.

The easy way is PayPal, but if you need another way, drop me a note.

Whether you can chip in or not, thanks for being here, some of y'all for all eight years!

Happy Labor Day!

As usual, I'll celebrate it by laboring. If you've got the day off and find yourself in the Shoreline area, drop down the hill to the perfect tavern and say howdy.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

Off to slice 60 pounds of corned beef and serve it up with cabbage, carrots and spuds. I'm working a long one at the perfect tavern, so the green beer and whiskey will have to wait a while, but there was substantial Guinness involved in cooking the brisket. If you find yourself anywhere nearby, come in for the best St. Pat's party in Shoreline.

Wherever you may be, have a great day and a better night.

And remember - if someone recommends a cab ride home, they're probably right.

Let's Go Green Bay!

I'm pulling for a Packers-Jets Superbowl. The Lombardi era Pack was my team as a kid and they've tugged at my football heart a bit every since. Football's always a better game when the Pack is back.

On the AFC side, I haven't cared much about the Jets since the Broadway Joe days, but I'll never forgive the Steelers for Super Bowl XL.

Of course, both games will be on all three screens at the perfect tavern, so if you're nearby, drop in and watch some football with me. Mention the blog and you just might win a prize...

Happy New Year!

I'm off to the perfect tavern to pour shots and champagne for the New Years revelers and won't be back 'til next year, so I'd better get my last holiday of 2010 wishes in now.

If you're out and about tonight, be safe. You won't have a better year next year if you start it with a DUI or worse tonight. If you've got nowhere else to be and you're anywhere near the Richmond Beach neighborhood of Shoreline, drop by The Cabin and say howdy. Be sure to mention that you're a friend of the blog to the guy with the bow tie and tux shirt (that would be me) and you may find your New Year's tab lightened by the price of a drink.

However you celebrate, or however you don't, best wishes from The Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left and myself. It's not been our best year, but y'all made it a better one than it might heve been and we're truly grateful.

It would be unseemly…

…for me to describe it quantitatively, but it's the Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left's birthday. Suffice to say she's not as old as I am, hence her other sobriquet, "my Child Bride."

Plans include some quality grandma time with the dynamic duo and a night cap at the perfect tavern when I go off shift tonight.

Thankfully, I have an excellent credit line at the perfect tav, because any other celebration depends on whether that PayPal button gets punched today.

Yeah, I suppose that's a hint. This, on the other hand, is an outright request. The BBBUL's favorite part of the blog has always been the comments (she's been listening to my off-line rants for decades). Take a moment to say hi and wish her a happy day.
Thanks.

Happy birthday, Sweetie!

Not that the "good old days"...

...were always all that good, but on the way home from the perfect tavern tonight I couldn't help notice the political yardsigns standing upright everywhere I looked.

Halloween just ain't what it used to be.

On a local note...

...it's ninety-sumpin' freaking degrees. Go outside!

(May I recommend the patio at the perfect tavern?)

Big game today.

Saints 35, Colts 31.

Given my track record, of course, posting that prediction probably makes the game a lock for the Colts.

I'll be watching (and cooking) at the perfect tavern. C'mon down if you're nearby.

Happy MLK Day!

It's suggested that the best way to observe the holiday is to perform some act of service in honor of the man and his mission. Since it's not a holiday for me, I'll be serving food and beverage at the perfect tavern. Double shift. C'mon down if you're off and nearby.

If you're in Massachusetts, do your service tomorrow by voting for the preservation of the Democratic agenda, whether or not you have reservations about the candidate that agenda is vested in.

See ya' later...

Everything scans clean...

...but the day's been dominated by some sort of computer-fu. I'm up and running on the Brilliant and Beautiful Bride of Upper Left's laptop, but I'm really not a crammed together keyboard and touch pad kinda' guy.

Off in a bit for the weekly jam at the perfect tavern (The Cabin in Richmond Beach - look it up. My URL stash is in the other machine.) We'll try to tackle some holiday sing alongs if anyone can remember the second verse to anything. If you can help us out, drop by and sing along!

Sunset on the Richmond Beach Riviera...

The view from the porch at work. It clicks bigger.
Sometimes it is perfect.

Wolverines!

My HS alma mater's football team heads to the Tacoma Dome to play for it's 7th State Championship in ten years tonight. Given the fortunes of the Hawks and Dawgs this year, it's nice to have the Wolverines to fall back on. And it's live on the teevee so I can lead the cheers at the perfect tavern. C'mon down and join in if you can.




Bellevue 23, Liberty 17

Way to go, Wolverines. 7 championships in the first decade of the century is an amazing achievement. Coach Butch Gondaroff is becoming a prep legend, and those kids just played their hearts out. As far as I know, there's only one NCAA Division I recruit on the team this year. Most of the seniors on the field were playing their last game of organized football, and they went out and created a great memory for themselves. Gotta love it.

Magnanimous in victory...

...or divided in loyalty?


Little of each, I suppose. The kids in Coug Corner at the perfect tavern were a lot of fun on a tough day for their team.

Gearing up for the...

What'll it be - Dawg redemption or another Cougar miracle? Ignore the spread, it's the Apple Cup. Anything can happen.

If you're looking for a friendly mixed crowd of Huskies and Cougs (OK, mostly Huskies...) to watch with, may I suggest the perfect tavern? 3:30 kickoff - be there!

Postgame update: Dawg redemption, 30-0

Hardly time to blog...

...this morning with a double shift at the perfect tavern looming, but still time to remind you that you have enough time to get that ballot marked and in the mail.

Yes, I mean now.

And 8,000 posts later...

...I got nothin'. For the moment, anyway. See ya after work.